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THEAMERICATILEMJE 
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ANEW-REFORMATION-RBUJIRFD 


V 


. 


Copyright  1895  by  Wm.  P.  Hall. 


Press  of 

Bartlett[&  Company,  New  York. 


THE  AMERICAN  LEAGUE  OF 
THE  GRAND  ARMY  OF 
THE  CROSS. 


A  NEW  REFORMATION  REQUIRED. 


THE  AMERICAN  LEAGUE  OF  THE 
GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  CROSS. 


HE  writer  has  long  been  impressed  by  the  too 


evident  spiritual  lethargy  of  the  rank  and  file 
of  the  Christian  Church.  He  has  long  been  con¬ 
vinced  of  the  imperative  necessity  for  a  new  ref¬ 
ormation  that  shall  break  down  present  barriers  of 
deadly  formalism  and  chilling  conventionality;  that 
shall  arouse  the  Church  of  Christ  to  active  pioneer 
efforts,  in  reaching  the  vast  majority  of  the  people, 
who  are  to-day  unreached  by  the  saving  influence 
of  the  proclaimed  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Care¬ 
fully  compiled  statistics  reveal  a  state  of  spiritual 
and  evangelistic  torpor  in  the  Church,  that  all  true 
disciples  of  Him  “who  spake  as  never  man  spake,” 
must  view  with  alarm.  Eminent  authorities  quite 
generally  agree  that  a  net  annual  increase  of  only 
about  five  per  cent,  is  now  being  added  to  the 
Evangelical  Church  of  Christ  in  America ! 

Four  hundred  churches  in  a  New  England  State 
report  but  four  hundred  additions  the  year 
past ;  and  this  the  leading  denomination  in  the 
State!  Rev.  Wm.  De  Witt  Hyde,  President  of 
Bowdoin  College  in  Maine,  stated  in  an  article  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Forum  some  months  since,  entitled 
“  Impending  Paganism  in  New  England,”  that  “in 
one  county  in  Maine,  out  of  6,987  families,  4,850  do 
not  attend  church,  and  in  the  combined  statistics 
of  fifteen  (15)  counties  containing  133,445  families, 
67,842  are  non-churchgoers.  This  shows  a  pro¬ 
portion  of  over  50  per  cent,  who  never  attend 
religious  worship.”  It  also  shows  a  state  of 
evangelistic  inefficiency  in  the  Churches  that  is  a 
disgrace  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  Rev.  Dr.  Josiah 


5 


Strong,  General  Secretary  of  the  Evangelical 
Alliance,  states  in  his  great  book  “The  New  Era,” 
that  “  during  the  year  1891,  in  a  large  and  influential 
denomination,  it  took,  on  the  average,  fourteen 
church  members  to  win  a  single  convert  from  the 
world;  in  another  it  took  seventeen  and  in  another 
twenty-two. 

“  These  three  denominations  aggregate  four  and 
a  half  millions  of  members;  and,  striking  the 
average  of  all,  it  took  about  twenty  (19.S)  of  these 
Christians  twelve  months  to  make  one  convert !  ” 
Rev.  Dr.  Arthur  T.  Pierson  states  in  his  grand  book 
on  “Evangelistic  Work,”  that  “those  who  have 
made  a  study  of  the  matter,  taking  a  survey  of  the 
whole  era  of  Protestant  and  Evangelical  Christen¬ 
dom,  and  the  average  accessions  by  conversion  for 
the  half  century  past,  tell  us  that  the  increase  is 
about  seven  converts  yearly  to  every  one  hundred 
Church  members.  If  this  be  true — and  it  tallies 
with  such  conclusions  as  we  have  been  able  to 
make  from  a  tolerably  broad  induction  from  facts — 
we  are  making  such  slow  progress  toward  the 
world’s  evangelization  (then  allowing  for  the  three 
per  cent,  annual  loss  in  membership  by  death)  that 
we  are  gaining  from  the  world  only  about  four  new 
converts  a  year  for  every  one  hundred  professed 
disciples  ! 

“  At  such  a  rate,  even  had  we  unlimited  time  for 
the  work,  it  would  take  half  a  millenium  (500)  of 
years  for  the  thirty  millions  of  Protestant  Christians 
to  reach  the  half  of  the  race  now  without  the 
gospel.  The  melancholy  fact  is  that  the  population 
of  the  world  is  more  rapid  in  its  increase  and  dis¬ 
placement  than  the  Church  is  in  its  evangelizing 
march  !  ” 


6 


Evidences  of  the  evangelistic  inefficiency  of  the 
Christian  Church  are  to  be  found  on  every  hand. 
Over  50  per  cent,  of  the  country’s  population  is  non¬ 
churchgoing,  and  no  organized  effective  effort  is 
now  being  made  to  reach  it.  This  enormous  sea 
of  humanity  is  daily  drifting  down  to  eternal  de¬ 
struction,  and  the  greater  number  of  professing 
Christians  let  the  drift  go  on,  and  content  them¬ 
selves  with  a  selfish,  cold  type  of  Christian  life  that 
works  on  the  “every  man  for  himself ”  plan,  and 
that  passes  the  sinner  by  “  on  the  other  side.” 
True  Christianity  is  essentially  non-selfish,  while  the 
prevalent  religion  of  most  Christians  to-day  is  largely 
one  of  complacent  conservatism,  of  almost  pure 
selfishness,  and  as  sure  as  God’s  Word  is  “sure  and 
steadfast  ”  such  religion  is  of  man  alone  ;  it  is  not 
of  Christ !  The  spiritual  lethargy  of  the  times  is 
beyond  all  calculation.  If  there  ever  was  need  for 
a  mighty  reformation  in  the  Church  of  God,  such  a 
need  exists  now.  The  first  bugle  blast  to  be  blown 
must  be  on  the  common  priesthood  of  all 

BELIEVERS  ! 

The  average  Christian  believes,  and  has  been 
largely  taught  to  believe,  that  there  has  been  granted 
a  special  dispensation  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ 
to  ordained  ministers  only,  and  therefore  be¬ 
lieves  the  subject  does  not  concern  him  at  all. 
Nothing  could  be  more  foreign  to  the  spirit  and 
teachings  of  the  New  Testament  than  such  a  belief. 
“The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say  come,  and  let  Him 
that  heareth  say  come,”  are  the  very  words  of 
the  inspired  record,  and  they  mean  just  what  they 
say,  and  they  say  that  every  believer  has  a 
right  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  of  Christ;  and  to 
offer  his  testimony  to  the  saving  power  of  Jesus 


7 


Christ;  and  such  service  is  not  only  A  RIGHT,  BUT 
a  God-commanded  duty,  and  “to  him  that 
knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is 
sin.”  The  greatest  sin  of  the  Christian  world  to¬ 
day  is  disobedience  and  neglect  of  this  very  com¬ 
mand.  These  statements  are  not  made  with  any 
intention  of  lowering  the  dignity  or  importance  of 
the  grand  office  of  the  Ordained  Christian  Ministry  ; 
but  if  they  are  heeded,  and  the  suggestions  con¬ 
tained  in  this  paper  are  acted  upon,  the  Ordained 
Christian  Ministry  will  multiply  its  influence  many 
fold  ;  for  with  the  active  personal  co-operation  of 
their  members  in  evangelistic  work,  the  pastors  of 
our  Churches  will  have  greater  occasion  for  rejoic¬ 
ing  and  thanksgiving  than  for  any  other  reason. 

As  previously  suggested,  no  organized  effective 
effort  is  now  being  made  by  the  Christian  Church  to 
reach  the  unchurched  millions  for  Christ.  The 
Word  of  God  has  “  been  made  of  non-effect”  through 
and  by  sheer  neglect  of  one  of  its  greatest  teachings  ; 
and  we  feel  well  assured  that  all  true  Christians  will 
join  with  us  when  we  say  the  hour  has  come 
WHEN  THE  MEMBERSHIP  OF  THE  CHURCH  MUST 
AWAKE  TO  ITS  HIGH  RESPONSIBILITIES  IN  CHRIST 
Jesus!  “  God  wills  it !  ”  The  heroic  efforts  of  a 
comparatively  few  of  “  God’s  own,”  in  every  com¬ 
munity,  have  been  and  are  now  being  constantly 
directed  along  the  lines  laid  down  by  Christ;  but 
nothing  will  answer  for  nor  take  the  place  of  a 
universal  proclamation  of  God’s  blessed  Gos¬ 
pel  by  the  universal  Church  of  God,  in  its  indi¬ 
vidual  members.  If  the  Church  expects  the  world 
is  coming  to  her,  for  salvation,  she  is  bound  to  be 
fearfully  disappointed.  If  Christ  could  have  saved 
the  world  without  coming  down  to  earth,  “to  seek 


8 


and  to  save  the  lost  ”  and  to  die  on  Calvary,  He  prob¬ 
ably  would  have  accomplished  the  work  the  easier 
wray.  He  who  commanded  all  His  disciples  to  “  go 
ye  into  all  the  w'orld  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature,”  practiced  what  he  preached  ;  as  the  his¬ 
tory  of  His  constant  journeyings,  sufferings  and 
labors  throughout  the  land  of  Palestine  clearly  showrs. 
The  curse  of  evangelistic  drought  that  afflicts  the 
Church  to-day  is  the  direct  and  legitimate  result  of 
ignoring  Christ’s  last  and  greatest  commandment. 
The  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  must  be  proclaimed  to 
all  who  are  in  sin,  by  all  who  believe,  and  when  that 
is  UNIVERSALLY  DONE,  AND  THEN  ONLY,  WILL  THE 

Church  fulfill  her  God-cOxMmanded  mission  ! 
Then  instead  of  a  miserly  five  per  cent,  annual 
increase  in  a  dead  membership,  an  increase  of  at 
least  thirty  fold  or  three  thousand  per  cent,  will  be 
realized  in  a  Church  ablaze  with  pentecostal  fire  ;  as 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  when  the  whole  Church 
proclaimed  the  Gospel  and 'the  Divine  promise  of 
phenomenal  results  wras  fully  realized.  A  trumpet 
blast  from  beyond  the  skies  vibrates  throughout  the 
w7orld  to-day,  calling  the  universal  church  of  God  to 
such  a  mighty  forward  evangelistic  movement  as 
only  God’s  hosts  can  accomplish  when  they  are  fully 
true  to  their  high  calling  in  Christ  Jesus!  Will 
YOU,  oh  Christian  believer,  fail  to  respond,  or  will 
you  join  the  triumphant  army  of  God’s  redeemed 
that  is  now  about  to  inaugurate  the  grandest,  greatest 
and  most  glorious  campaign  for  God  the  world  has 
ever  seen?  Will  you  continue  to  have  a  name  to 
live,  but  still  be  dead  to  Heaven’s  high  call,  or  wall 
you  join  that  great  company  whom  no  man  can 
number,  and  whose  chief  calling  in  life  is  to 
spread  the  Gospel  proclamation  to  a  dying  world, 


9 


and  finally  share  in  their  glorious  reward,  when  at 
last  with  “  palms  of  victory  and  crowns  of  glory  ” 
they  shall  meet  their  Imperial  Master,  whom  they 
have  so  nobly  served,  and  from  His  lovely  lips  hear 
that  promised  welcome,  “Come  ye,  blessed  of  my 
Father,  and  inherit  the  Kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world,”  which  has  been 
promised  only  to  those  who  do  His  will. 

“  We  are  living,  we  are  dwelling, 

In  a  grand  and  awful  time ; 

In  an  age  on  ages  telling; 

To  be  living  is  sublime  ! 

Oh,  let  all  the  soul  within  you, 

For  the  truth’s  sake  go  abroad ; 

Oh,  let  every  nerve  and  sinew, 

Tell  on  ages,  tell  for  God  1  ” 

That  the  present  time  is  suggestive  and  propitious 
for  a  widespread,  universal  revival  of  spiritual 
interest  and  general  evangelistic  activity  in  the 
Christian  Church  is  very  evident  to  close  and  thought¬ 
ful  observers,  and  yet  no  broad,  comprehensive  plan 
or  movement  has  been  proposed  for  arousing  the 
dormant  energies,  the  enthusiasm  and  evangelistic 
activities  of  the  great  mass  of  evangelical  Church 
members.  A  careful  survey  of  the  field,  a  thorough 
consideration  of  the  objects  to  be  attained,  and  of 
the  work  to  be  accomplished,  has  led  to  the  proposal 
of  the  plan  that  is  involved  in  the  organization  and 
proposed  work  of  the  American  League  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Cross.  Any  movement  that 
involved  the  military  idea  has  from  time  immemorial 
immediately  and  instinctively  commanded  the  ad¬ 
miration,  enthusiasm  and  intense  interest  of  men, 
women  and  children.  That  God  Himself  fully 
appreciates  and  approves  of  this  fact  is  clearly  shown 


io 


in  many  passages  of  Scripture,  where  the  militant 
feature  appears.  The  Christian  believer  is  repeat¬ 
edly  referred  to  as  a  soldier.  Christ  stated  shortly 
before  His  crucifixion,  that  it  was  within  His  power 
to  summon  more  than  twelve  legions  of  angels 
to  His  assistance.  Thus,  in  using  the  Roman 
military  term  “  legion,”  Christ  indicated  the  fact 
that  the  hosts  of  Heaven  were  considered  as  a  great 
army  of  celestial  soldiers.  Indeed  it  would 
seem  hardly  necessary  to  refer  further  to  the 
Scriptures  to  support  the  proposition.  The  recent 
extraordinary  development  and  wonderful  multipli¬ 
cation  of  semi-military  patriotic  societies  is  also 
corroborative  of  the  instinctive  character  of  that 
natural  admiration  of  things  warlike  and  military 
that  dwells  in  every  human  heart  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  and  proves  the  power  and  influence  of  the 
fact  upon  the  minds  of  men. 

There  are  several  very  good  reasons  for  the 
existence  of  this  spirit  of  interest  in  military  affairs  ; 
it  represents  that  power,  that,  by  the  blessing  of 
Heaven,  brought  independence  to  our  glorious 
country;  preserved  the  Union  and  freed  the  slave. 
It  represents  the  greatest  life  work  of  many  of  our 
illustrious  ancestors  in  this  and  foreign  lands.  It 
appeals  to  every  patriotic  sentiment  and  to  every 
holy  emotion  of  patriotic  interest.  It  represents  the 
very  highest  idea  of  complete  organization  and 
organized  efficiency,  and  the  very  highest  ideal  of 
human  power. 

In  view  of  the  foregoing  facts,  it  will  doubtless  be 
conceded  that  if  the  military  idea  can  be  practically 
utilized  in  the  Church  of  Christ  for  the  advancement 
of  the  Redeemer’s  Kingdom,  it  can  be  made  to  exert 
a  tremendous  and  incalculable  influence  for  good. 


The  application  of  the  idea  in  the  organization  and 
work  of  the  Salvation  Army,  while  crude  and 
objectionable  to  many  on  account  of  its  arbitrary 
discipline,  has  effected  a  perfect  revolution  in  the 
field  of  labor,  outside  the  Churches,  which  the 
Army  occupies. 

The  following  description  of  the  proposed  plan  and 
work  of  the  American  League  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Cross  is  suggestive  of  the  possibilities 
of  the  application  of  the  semi-military  idea  in  regu¬ 
lar  church  work,  and  as  it  has  been  arranged  with 
special  consideration  of  the  objections  offered  to 
organizations  in  the  Church,  and  with  a  view  of 
filling  an  almost  entirely  unoccupied  field,  the  writer 
trusts  it  may  receive  some  favorable  consideration 
from  thoughtful  and  earnest  brethren  in  the  Lord. 


0 


12 


THE  AMERICAN  LEAGUE  OF  THE 
GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE 
CROSS. 


PLAN  OF  ORGANIZATION. 

TT  is  proposed  to  effect  such  an  organization  as 
will  most  completely  meet  the  requirements  of 
the  case ;  in  order  to  thoroughly  cover  the  ground, 
the  following  is  presented  for  the  consideration  of 
the  reader: 

A  League  Company  of  either  men  or  women,  or 
both,  as  may  be  desired,  to  be  organized  in  each 
Evangelical  Church;  each  League  Company  to  be 
directed  in  its  work  by  a  President-Captain — pref¬ 
erably  the  pastor  of  the  Church,  or  some  one 
nominated  by  him — assisted  by  an  Executive  Staff 
consisting  of  a  First  and  Second  Vice-President- 
Lieutenant,  a  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer. 

Each  two,  and  not  more  than  ten,  Companies,  may 
form  a  Regiment ;  each  Regiment  to  be  directed  in 
its  work  by  a  President-Colonel,  assisted  by  an 
Executive  Staff  consisting  of  a  Vice-President- 
Major  and  the  President-Captains  of  all  the  League 
Companies,  together  with  a  Secretary  and  a  Treas- 
•  urer. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Regiment  to  plan 
and  generally  direct  all  work  that  may  be  done  out¬ 
side  of  the  Church,  and  to  engage  in  and  direct 
such  interdenominational  work  in  the  Churches  as 
may  be  deemed  expedient  and  desirable. 

The  organization,  equipment  and  training  of  a 
sufficient  number  of  members  to  form  a  brass  band 
in  each  Regiment  is  earnestly  advised. 


The  Regiments  of  each  division  or  State  to  form 
a  Brigade ;  each  Brigade  to  be  directed  in  its  work 
by  a  President-General,  assisted  by  an  Executive 
Staff  consisting  of  a  Vice-President- Adjutant-Gen¬ 
eral,  the  President-Colonels  of  all  the  Regiments, 
and  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Brigade,  through  its  executive  officers, 
to  generally  enterprise  and  promote  the  work  of  the 
League  throughout  the  division  or  State,  and  gen¬ 
erally  to  assist  the  National  League  in  its  larger  work 
of  organizing  and  directing  the  entire  movement. 
The  Brigades  of  all  divisions  and  States  to  be 
members  of  the  National  American  League  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Cross. 

The  National  League  to  be  directed  in  its  work 
of  generally  organizing,  promoting  and  supervising 
the  organization  by  a  President-Commander-in- 
Chief,  assisted  by  an  Executive  Staff  consisting  of 
a  Vice-President-Chief-of-Staff,  the  President-Gen¬ 
erals  of  all  the  Brigades,  a  Secretary-General,  a 
Treasurer-General,  and  such  other  officers  as  the 
exigencies  of  the  work  may  require. 


14 


THE  AMERICAN  LEAGUE  OF  THE 
GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE 
CROSS. 


CONSTITUTION. 


ARTICLE  I.— NAME. 


HIS  organization  shall  be  called  “  The  American 


League  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross,” 
in  league  with  all  Local,  State,  National  and  other 
Leagues  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross. 


article  II.— object. 


The  object  of  the  League  shall  be  to  promote  a 
revival  of  the  spirit,  work  and  general  evangelistic 
enterprise  of  primitive  Christianity.  The  League 
shall  aim  to  arouse  the  dormant  energies  and  to  res¬ 
urrect  the  buried  talents  of  the  great  number  of 
professing  Christians  who  are  now  practically  dead 
unto  good  works;  and  it  shall  engage  in  all  reforms 
which  are  vital  in  the  development  of  the  ideal 
manliness  which  is  typified  in  the  life  and  saving 
power  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  shall  carry  on  its  work  in 
accord  with  the  following  platform  of  principles: 

We  believe  in  the  old  Bible — the  Sword  of  the 
Spirit — from  cover  to  cover,  and  we  will  always  and 
everywhere  discountenance  any  attack  upon,  or  dis¬ 
respect  for,  its  text  or  teachings. 

We  believe  all  Christian  believers  are  required, 
according  to  the  .  Scriptures  (Revelations  22:17; 
Mark  16:15  and  Acts  1  j8),  to  engage  in  active  per¬ 
sonal  work  with  the  unsaved. 

Therefore,  we  believe  we  are  called  of  God  to  go 
into  all  the  world  and  preach  (or  'proclaim)  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature. 


r5 


We  believe  that  only  by  concerted,  systematic, 
organized  effort  along  certain  definite  lines  can  the 
Christian  world  be  definitely  and  generally  aroused 
on  the  subjects  of  interest  to  this  League. 

Therefore,  with  a  sincere,  heartfelt  and  prayerful 
desire  to  take  part  in  the  great  work  of  arousing 
the  Church  and  the  world  to  a  due  sense  of  their 
responsibilities,  opportunities  and  privileges  in 
Jesus  Christ,  we 

Do  hereby  associate  ourselves  together  in 
a  League  Company  of  the  American  League  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Cross  for  the  purposes  outlined 
in  this  platform  of  principles,  and  the  prosecu¬ 
tion  of  such  other  work  as  may  be  enterprised  by 
the  organization. 

article  III.— membership. 

The  membership  of  this  League  Company  is 
purely  voluntary,  but  a  thorough  adherence  to  its 
Rules  and  Regulations  is  expected  and  required  of 
its  members  while  they  continue  as  such.  Any 
Christian  believer  who  is  in  good  and  regular  stand¬ 
ing  in  any  Evangelical  Church,  and  who  will  cheer¬ 
fully  subscribe  to  our  Declaration  of  Principles, 
sign  our  Constitution  and  Pledge,  and  agree  to  be 
bound  and  governed  thereby,  may  become  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  this  League  Company  by  enlisting  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross. 

Persons  converted  in  the  work  of  the  League 
may  become  members  of  the  organization,  but  they 
must  in  every  case  join  some  Evangelical  Church 

ft 

of  their  choice  within  two  months  thereafter. 

Each  member  must  be  furnished  with  an  enlist¬ 
ment  certificate  signed  by  the  Secretary  and  counter¬ 
signed  by  the  President-Captain,  and  a  correct  list 


of  the  members  and  their  addresses  must  be  for¬ 
warded  monthly  by  the  League  Company  Secretary 
to  the  Secretary-General  of  the  National  League. 

ARTICLE  IV.— OFFICERS. 

The  officers  of  this  League  Company  shall  be  a 
President-Captain,  a  First  Vice-President-Lieuten¬ 
ant,  a  Second  Vice-President-Lieutenant,  a  Secretary 
and  a  Treasurer,  and  such  other  officers  as  may  be 
required  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  work. 

ARTICLE  V.— DIRECTION  OF  THE  WORK. 

The  officers  and  members  of  the  League  Com¬ 
pany  shall  be  governed  and  directed  in  the  regular 
work  of  the  organization  by  the  President-Captain, 
and  in  his  absence  by  the  First  or  Second  Vice- 
President-Lieutenants,  or  whoever  they  may  depute 
to  represent  them  when  they  are  absent. 

ARTICLE  VI.— PLEDGE. 

The  pledge  or  agreement  of  this  League 
Company  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross,  shall 
be  as  follows : 

Realizing  the  imperative  need  of  an  organized 
effort  on  the  part  of  all  Christians  to  be  active  and 
efficient  “  Soldiers  of  the  Cross,”  in  the  work  of 
arousing  the  Church  to  a  due  sense  of  the  im¬ 
portance  of  her  neglected  responsibilities  to  a  dying 
world,  and  in  reaching  and  leading  the  unsaved 
to  the  “great  Captain  of  our  Salvation,” 

I,  the  undersigned,  sincerely  believing  I  am 
called  of  God  to  engage  in  such  an  effort,  do 
HEREBY  ENLIST  AS  AN  ACTIVE  AND  OBEDIENT 

soldier  of  Jesus  Christ  in  this  League  Company 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross;  and  in  the 
presence  and  with  the  help  of  Almighty  God  and 


my  comrades,  do  hereby  bind  myself  and  agree  to 
discharge  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  under  the 
direction  of  the  proper  officers  of  this  League 
Company,  the  following  duties  : 

I  will  devote  such  portion  of  my  time  as  may  be 
consistent  with  other  duties  to  the  direct  work 
of  witnessing  for  my  great  Captain  Jesus  Christ, 
wherever  I  go,  and  especially  by  public  testimony 
for  Him,  in  every  meeting  I  may  attend,  when 
opportunity  is  afforded ;  and  I  will  constantly  seek 
to  secure  recruits  for  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross, 
both  in  the  Church  and  in  the  world. 

I  will  pray  each  day  “  evening,  morning  and  at 
noon,”  for  the  highest  possible  success  of  this 
League,  and  for  the  arousement  of  the  whole 
Church  of  God  to  more  efficient  and  enthusiastic 
service. 

I  will  earnestly  support,  proclaim,  defend  and 
daily  read  the  text  and  study  the  teachings  of  the 
Holy  Bible,  the  Sword  of  the  Spirit,”  the  very 
Word  of  God,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  constantly 
keep  in  my  personal  possession  at  least  a  copy  of 
the  New  Testament. 

I  will  constantly  strive  to  realize  the  highest 
standard  of  Christian  experience  as  taught  by  the 
Son  of  God. 

I  will  always  endeavor  to  promote,  encourage 
and  actively  engage  in  all  the  work  enterprised  by 
this  League,  and  my  Church,  and  give  according  to 
my  ability  to  advance  the  work  of  Christ. 

I  will  in  no  event  allow  my  work  in  connection 
with  this  League  Company  to  seriously  interfere 
with  my  duties  and  responsibilities  to  my  Church, 
but  I  will  endeavor  to  be  more  useful  and  efficient 
in  my  Church  than  ever  before. 


ARTICLE  VII.— BADGE. 

Each  member  of  the] League  shall  wear  at  all  times 
the  “red,  white  and  blue”  cross  of  the  American 
League  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross. 

This  badge  is  copyrighted  and  furnished  only  by 
the  National  League.  No  other  badge  or  charm 
representing  the  order  shall  be  worn  by  members. 


RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 

ARTICLE  1.— PRESIDENT-CAPTAIN. 

The  President-Captain,  or  in  his  absence,  one  of 
the  Vice-President-Lieutenants,  shall  preside  at  all 
meetings  of  the  League  Company. 

ARTICLE  II.— SECRETARY. 

The  Secretary  shall  keep  The  roll  call,  and  the 
record  of  all  meetings.  He  shall  give  notice  of 
meetings  and  report  quarterly  all  new  officers  and 
members  to  the  Secretary-General  of  the  National 
League. 

ARTICLE  III.— TREASURER. 

The  Treasurer  shall  have  charge  of  the  funds  of 
the  League  Company,  subject  to  the  direction  of 
the  President-Captain.  He  shall  report  to  the 
League  Company  at  its  business  councils,  and  to 
any  member  of  the  League  Company  when  so 
requested. 

ARTICLE  IV.— EXECUTIVE  STAFF. 

The  Executive  Staff  shall  advise  with  the  Presi¬ 
dent-Captain,  and  shall  carry  into  effect  such  plans 
as  may  be  adopted  ;  shall  recommend  such  plans 
or  modifications  of  plans  as  their  own  study  and 
experience  may  suggest,  and  shall  assist  the  Presi¬ 
dent-Captain  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work  in 
every  way. 


*9 


ARTICLE  V.— COUNCIL. 


There  shall  be  an  annual  Council  for  the  election 
of  officers  on  the  second  Monday  in  the  month  of 
May. 

ARTICLE  VI.— DETACHMENTS  OR  COMMITTEES. 

Such  detachments  or  committees  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  prosecution  of  special  work  shall 
be  appointed  by  the  President-Captain. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

These  Rules  and  Regulations  may  be  amended 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  at  any  duly  called  Council  of 
the  League  Company,  but  no  amendment  may  be 
effected  that  is  not  first  submitted  to  and  does  not 
meet  with  the  approval  of  the  National  League. 


20 


THE  NATIONAL  AMERICAN  LEAGUE 
OF  THE  GRAND  ARMY  OF 
THE  CROSS. 


PLAN  OF  CAMPAIGN. 


GENERAL  EXPLANATION. 

T  T  is  proposed  that  ail  the  evangelical  pastors  and 
leading  Christian  laymen  of  a  given  place  be 
consulted  in  regard  to  the  organization,  objects  and 
work  of  the  League,  and  if,  after  a  complete  expla¬ 
nation  has  been  given,  two  or  more  (preferably  all 
the  evangelical  Churches  in  a  place  should  unite 
in  the  movement)  pastors  and  laymen  agree  to 
invite  the  inauguration  of  the  League  and  its  work, 
the  National  organization  will  detail  a  corps  of 
officers  to  visit  the  place,  and  assist  in  the  organiza¬ 
tion  of  the  League  Companies  and  Regiment;  and 
they  will  carry  on  a  vigorous  campaign  for  a  week 
or  ten  days,  in  the  evangelization  of  the  community, 
under  the  plans  and  system  adopted  by  the  National 
League  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  work. 

DETAILED  EXPLANATION. 

When  the  evangelical  pastors  of  any  given  place 
invite  the  National  League  to  inaugurate  the  move¬ 
ment  in  their  Churches  and  community,  a  compre¬ 
hensive  system  of  meetings  should  be  appointed  to 
enable  the  National  officers  to  first  reach  the 
Church  members  in  their  respective  Churches,  or  at 
a  central  point,  and  to  explain  to  them  the  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  organization,  and  the  plan  of  work 
proposed  to  be  accomplished.  League  Companies 
and  a  League  Regiment  can  then  be  immediately 
organized,  and  the  work  commenced. 


21 


The  town,  city,  village  or  borough  should  then 
be  divided  into  districts  of  such  size  as  to  facilitate 
the  work  of  house  to  house  visitation,  to  be  done 
by  detachments  or  committees  of  two  members 
each  (of  the  League  Regiment).  Each  canvassing 
detachment  should  be  furnished  with  the  National 
League’s  Standard  Enrollment  Book.  These  books 
provide  for  the  entry  of  names,  addresses,  reported 
religious  condition,  and  Church  preference  of  the 
persons  visited. 

When  it  is  deemed  wise  and  expedient  a  few 
words  of  prayer  may  be  offered  at  the  houses 
visited,  and  in  all  cases  a  hearty  invitation  to  the 
meetings  of  the  League  should  be  given. 

After  the  League  Companies  and  Regiment  have 
been  organized,  public  meetings  should  then  be  held 
to  reach  and  evangelize  the  unsaved.  These  meet¬ 
ings  should  be  extensively  advertised,  both  in  the 
Churches  and  local  newspapers,  and  public  interest 
should  be  excited  and  sustained  by  the  daily  or 
weekly  publication  of  accounts  of  the  meetings 
held,  including  names  of  speakers,  the  addresses 
made,  and  the  results  accomplished.  The  Secre¬ 
tary  of  the  League  Regiment  should  attend 
to  this  work. 

The  meetings  will  be  conducted  in  accordance 
with  the  plans  of  the  League,  in  an  enthusiastic, 
spiritual  and  zealous  manner.  The  use  of  a  properly 
constituted,  well  trained  and  well-conducted  brass 
band  or  orchestra  is  especially  recommended. 

The  military  idea  will  be  largely  availed  of  in 
these  meetings.  The  unsaved  will  be  earnestly  and 
lovingly  entreated  and  invited  to  give  their  hearts 
to  God,  and  to  enlist  in  the  League  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Cross.  The  taking  up  the  Cross  of 


Christ  for  Christian  life  and  warfare  will  be  strik¬ 
ingly  symbolized  in  the  presentation  of  the  Cross 
Badge  to  each  of  those  who  enlist  in  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Cross  at  the  close  of  each  service. 

One  of  the  most  desirable  and  valuable  features 
of  the  movement  will  be  the  detailing  of  each  new 
soldier  for  immediate  service  in  and  out  of  the 
meetings. 

A  collection  of  Battle  Hymns  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Cross  will  be  used  in  all  the  meetings. 

A  thorough  enrollment  of  all  persons  who  are 
reached  in  the  work  will  be  made  by  the  Secre¬ 
taries  of  the  League  Companies  under  direction 
of  the  Secretary  of  the  League  Regiment. 

Volley  testimony,  Army  prayer  and  battle 
hymn  meetings,  and  other  meetings  of  an  interest¬ 
ing,  novel  and  profitable  character  will  be  carried  on 
as  a  part  of  the  campaign. 

It  will  be  the  aim  and  endeavor  of  the  National 
League  to  encourage  and  sustain  the  prosecution  of 
an  annual  campaign  of  from  one  week  to  ten  days 
in  each  place  where  the  movement  may  be  estab¬ 
lished.  Thus  a  new  evangelistic  force  and  organi¬ 
zation  will  be  introduced  and  sustained  in  all  places 
where  the  League  gains  a  foothold,  that  will  un¬ 
doubtedly  lead  to  the  salvation  of  a  vast  multitude 
of  precious  souls;  the  radical  awakening  of  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  Church  to  a  due  sense  of  their 
responsibilities  and  duties  as  “Soldiers  of  the  Cross,” 
and  their  active  participation  in  the  great  work  of 
the  world’s  salvation ;  and  to  such  an  extraordinary 
accession  to  Church  membership  as  the  spirit  and 
work  of  the  League  will  ensure.  Other  plans  are 
now  being  made  for  the  successful  introduction  and 
operation  of  the  American  League  of  the  Grand 


o  -> 

-  J 


Army  of  the  Cross  in  localities  and  Churches  re¬ 
quiring  different  arrangements  than  those  suggested. 
More  complete  and  detailed  information  will  be 
cheerfully  furnished  to  all  who  may  be  interested. 

All  correspondence  relating  to  "the  American 
League  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Cross  may  be 
addressed  to 

WILLIAM  P.  HALL, 

Greenwich,  Conn. 


24 


